March Edition (n° 73) - 7th year
Dear Reader,
Welcome to the spring edition of Crisis-Beating BBT Online. As always we’re listening, changing and adapting to the needs of our readers. Corporate readers were given a voice in the regular ‘Quickie’ interview, Take 5, our brand new bi-weekly newsletter, brings the hottest news in MICE land and now .... BBT Events.
We focus on real tree-less content - education, ideas and constructive comment.
Don’t miss our changing worlds at www.bbtonline.eu
And spread the word among your colleagues, friends & business associates.
Karin De Graauw – Editor BBT Online
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The Team |
(If you no longer wish to receive this free industry information service, you can unsubscribe with one simple click, although in our view that would be a mistake - see why below.)
MICE CalendarClick here
In this March issue:
In-depth INTERVIEW
Viviane Vogels meets Patrick Bontinck of the newly formed Brussels Hotel Association, in a hard-hitting interview about Brussels in the current crisis....intelligent fighting talk...
An extract of the interview.
“We cannot deny that the situation is catastrophic and that clear measures are needed! The figures do not lie: in January our average occupancy went down by 17%, a trend which unfortunately continues for the foreseeable future. I want to be absolutely clear when I say that the impact of 9/11 on our business was not as important as what is taking place for the moment!”
Special EVENTS
Yes, and it was very special! Find out how to spend a great motivational Monday in ‘BBT Online goes zen’.45 readers from across the industry joined the BBT Online team for a simply amazing day @ Dolce La Hulpe Brussels – the Cube with Annapurna Consult, Dolce food, the Cinq Mondes Spa, the pure zen....
It was a real mind-body-spirit experience and BBT Online’s first-ever big readers’ event...read on & see the pictures.
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In a 2nd article, Eric Rozenberg, CMM, CMP, President Ince & Tive, reports us from Atlanta on the formerly known ‘PEC-NA’, MPI’s “MeetDifferent” Conference. It was truly a different conference where industry information, education and networking reached an all time high and could not come at a more appropriate time.
Not surprisingly, Meetings and Events are still rated the best Marketing tool to provide ROI for corporations looking to increase their sales, solidify their brand identity and strengthen their relationships with their customers.
Great DESTINATIONS
Viviane Vogels visits the land of a hundred thousand welcomes and communicates her infectious enthusiasm for ‘Dublin so close yet so different’. She does a live site inspection of some of the city’s best venues - a castle, a sports stadium, a former hospital, the legendary Guinness Storehouse….
And she ends on a big high at Dublin’s jewel in the crown, the new Convention Centre Dublin, opening September 2010…..Yes, Ireland certainly does inspire!
What our READERS say…
We need YOUR REACTION in the BBT Online chatroom
CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) was the term on everyone’s lips in 2008, but is it still regarded as important since the onset of the global financial crisis? Send us your comments.Click here to read more….
TRAVEL Industry
Written by BBT Online newcomer, Vicky Morrison who reports on a wide range of topical issues – Crisis-beating tips from SITE, MICE bargains in the UK & Iceland, Social networking demystified, Lucien Barrière in Brussels, CWT’s crisis-beating programme and MORE.....
And finishes with...News items on business travel, aviation & hotels.
Xtra NEWS & VIEWS
Bruce Taylor brings some practical Marketing Notes from across Europe. He has outspoken marketing thoughts
on partnerships, freeloaders & an exotic cocktail. He introduces a section of Uppers & Downers and pays tribute to a legendary Irishman. There’s also Business Bullshit, tips on communication, great sayings and acronyms for beginners....A must for anyone involved in the art of communication.....
In a second contribution, Bruce looks at how Small is beautiful and is exactly what people are looking for more & more. What does Château de L’Hoste, a small French hotel with character & charm, have in common with two Belgian specialist operators, Zuid-Afrika Reiscenter & Gallia.....? You’ll be surprised....
News’n TRUTHS
Previously MICE News...now News’nTruths from across the colourful world of Meetings & Motivational Events.
Viviane Vogels asks whether green travel is dead. She makes a critical re-visit to the hotel Business Center – now here’s an opportunity to come out of the closet....! Reveals 10 places to see before they disappear. She joins Austrian for a major meetings workshop and confirms that good innovative ideas don’t always have to be expensive.......
Your NEWS & VIEWS
And if you have any strong views on current issues & events in the business travel & MICE world, just email us at info@bbtonline.eu.And on a commercial note, we have created a new eNewsletter archive where we keep alive our clients’ latest messages – it’s easy for readers & practical for clients…..take a look and call us for more info.
http://www.bbtonline.eu/newsletter_archives.php